Show 0 A m r f The TheA 8 F 4 A Fi Fighting Ranger Novelized for Newspaper J By fly B Y J Serialization by HORACE F. F J. J McCONNELL EATON c A and w. w N. N u. u service r GEORGE W W. Co 1033 rup l r aJr al aJ I Pictures Corporation r 1 r I k n 6 y 1 p ri r-ri 1 I T l SYNOPSIS I a nd skIn I 0 Mary Marshall eighteen and 1 retty tty lives with her dad In InU Ind r l it U radise canyon canon a n mysterious d Or treat Just lust across tho the border tl i om rom Arizona Mary and hor her 4 they ither rescue an unknown flyer cr cred ed tb om his wrecked plane Mar Mary Marya 11 a In love with her ber patient 3 e 3 fhe The he flyer tells Mary an and her fa- fa 1 3 er that his name Is Terence Rourke and that he was born 1 Ali the vicinity of or Paradise cans can- can tl s n. n He Fie also tells them that att tf l Is 18 father rather was killed while prospecting pros pros- O t In the canyon Terence that he adores her ellS Its Mary t tb 3 t f arshall tells his daughter that O ppl S' S e e. was f forced to kill a n man Int In ln defense defense lf-defense and that he ho fled tied to too toto tt t o to escape the law and h Eat lb-at lb he left lert his affairs In the thee theof e re of or his attorney a n. man B amed Taggart Mar Mary otters offers her hor herther horto to 10 ther ather that was was' left to totIs ir er er by her ber grandfather to pay paye payS S S. e mortgage marts on an the ranch Mary Mar MaryLi l Li i-e i lans ans ns to take the money to theall the all mink fank herself Buck leader of or a n. ang of or bandits tells Taggart Tags of or orup up rys ry's plans and they plan to toa C. C ob ib her Taggart plots to get ranch a away way from Marshall Marshal I 1 J l Terence a government t ranger ld es Taggarts Taggart's gang of or outlaws e etl Mary Taggart becomes 3 S S. S S. S Infatuated with Mar Mary Mar Mary nd Ind Terence are slightly Injured fj 9 hen Taggarts Taggart's gang g-ang explodes a abarge barge arge of or dynamite Buck Mc- Mc r re re Od steals a n map from Terence r rence recovers the map Tag Tag- t its it's men attack Mary and Ter- Ter o ce but before they can capt capture cap- cap lure oi t ture e them they arc are routed by a forest forest fire tire Mary and Terence t are re rescued Marshall when tr old ld b by Taggarts Taggart's men that that- his i t I. aughter was thought to haver have r P perished In the flames starts for rore he e ranch and Is arrested for fora a II c o 0 murder of or Black Benwell tells talla Montrose an old sweet sweet- of or Buds Bud's tells Taggart Tags that Marshall did not kill Black Benwell Ben- Ben well Taggart offers her rr t t. t she will J keep e p her secret as he wants ants Marshall out of Or the way l 1 i f w q CHA CHAPTER X Xi rR 1 i o- o t mn the e Trial of John Marshall j had been a terrible week weck for Fe Fery ry Terence had not returned I II faith in him was d but Y YG heart was heavy with fears that I 9 had ud been heen killed in an accident or bandits Taggart rag art had obtained a n neP eP ant rant for his arrest st cst but the sheriffs sheriff's fin had been unable to find any trace t Terence lk down with worries over oer the thesis sis faced b by her sick and broken- broken lr rated ted father whom she visited each eachin t 1 yin in prison In III addition to f fears ars for r missing lover she was In a frantic te e. e Taggart continued to pursue s with his advances and while she sheI sheI I aged Waged to put him off she had to try I t to offend him for fOl so 50 much would spend pend end upon the def defense nse he would put putI s her fathers father's lawyer I g strove to raise himself fur lu iu r favor b by having haYing his men bring the if the le back to the ranch from the pot- pot I I lg where they had been heen dr dry I Jn ling her he had led a terrific battle tattle the thc cattle rustlers i FInally the crucial day arrived the arrived the l IY v of the trial It was n a day of torture for Mary g he B courtroom was cro crowded All Alles es s were fixed on John Marshall the ther 1 r toner saner lookin looking weak weary and sitting under guard of a aty ty sheriff Mary Iary sat close lJ by ed d to look confident and to cheer up She studied the stern face fare of or J e judge and the expressionless faces l the jury tensel tensely listening to the All seemed hostile t to heren her fen en sn the spectators It seem seemed cd sided J UI th the pro prosecution j 1 she he wear weary hours passed the passed the wran- wran of the law lawyers ers the drone of or ar ar- the examining of witnesses J ft d heated questioning cross the rapi rap- rap i 1 ng g of ot the judges judge's es e's gavel for order order- 1 the dreary routine of justice in opI option op- op lIon tion I Taggart concluded his lils defense of arshall after a u weak fight and sat yn b wn beside Mary Ian and her father r. r 41 I I have ha done all ll that I could he II Id HJ Mary We can only wait walt hope hope- 1 fly Iy now It She hc sobbed and said nothing ii The lie prosecutor a sharp featured t an n with a n quick had convincing t d dJ gUC was addressing the Jury he assailed every ery ur argut IJ J ent nt t of the frail defense Taggart had hadt t up Ills IHs words fell like e hammer er erl ws l Y upon Mur Mary and her hope kept u dud and sinking Her Ifer fathers father's face ace ii iI is IJ pare paie Je and IHl haggard as he lie listened 1 me tile prosecutors prosecutor's denunciation Trie lIe end was near The po prosecutor l t as s shouting In a n high shrill voice he je Jurors hung on his Ills words The he defense has told tod you ou that John shot In defense to self defense to pro pro- his own life the prosecutor was aying Now In conclusion gentle gentle- let me ask you just one question I if the answer to that question which nu flu will form orm In your our own minds mind you could find I the basis for our your verdict Tic question la this this-if tills if the story 1111 1110 told by the defense were true If true If the killing of Black Benwell was Justified as the they have sou sought ht to prove then prove then why gentlemen wh why did this tills man and he lie pointed an accusing finger anger r at Marshall a n picture of despair where he sat beside Mary Iary her own e eyes es tearful tearful tearful tear tear- ful but flashing defiance at the prosecutor prosecutor prosecutor prose prose- and tr trying Ing vainly to comfort her father father- Why did John Marshall the prosecutors prosecutor's prosecutors prosecutor's prosecutors prosecutor's prose prose- voice shrilled on his finger shaking at the prisoner lice flee Into hiding hid ing lag from the law for fifteen years ears He lIe halted to allow the full effect of his master stroke e to fall upon the courtroom The spectators stirred with hushed excitement excitement the the jury looked more tense than ever Confident Confident dent lent he had scored the prosecutor resumed resumed resumed re re- re- re The state rests Its case In your hands gentlemen with the demand that the defendant expiate his crime by the death penalty I 1 IThe IThe The tense excitement In the room subsided in a n degree as the prosecutor took his rent real and the headed gray judge arose and droned out his charge to the jury summing up the points on both sides In a dispassionate drawling voice A deputy touched Taggart on the elbow Youre wanted outside a minute Mr Taggart Taggart went out In the hall It was wasStella wasStella wasStella Stella Montrose who was waiting waltIn for him He whispered with her In a corner corner corner cor cor- ner at the thc end of the corrIdore corridor Ive e waited long enough Stella told him Come across with the rest of that mone money money or or or Ill I'll stop the show now now Her expression was determined Taggart was alarmed h Sit Ive I've already told you the bank gave e a cashiers cashier's check y t J Ji i v M v y yr r d I II I Mary Marshall for he said That with the cash I already slipped you will stake make the Ule total we wc agreed on Well but give ghe It to me Stella In In- Walt ait whispered Tug Taggart The checks check's no good until Marshalls Marshall's girl Irl indorses It Ive I've told them beat it over the border Weve We've got to play this tills right Just hide bide your time Marshall ll I Is doomed When I get his ranch Ill I'll let you in on the game ame Dont Don't worry worry Ill Ill I'll Ill I'll treat you oU rl right ht Well Vell you ou better Stella said and the they parted The judge julge finished his char charge e to the Jury Jur as Ta Taggart art entered re-entered the court court- room The rIle Jurors filed flied out nut and nUll the jud Judge e descended from flOm the bench hench A Abuzz buzz of conversation filled the courtroom courtroom court court- room as s the recess begun henn Marys Mary's arm aria r rested comfortingly on her fathers father's shoulder lIe He stared before be her fore him silent ilent Taggart Ta approached e We have e done our best hest he saidI saidI said sald I am tun hopeful cr very hopeful After an nn hour 0 of dreadful suspense for Mar Mary and her father word was sent from flOm they the jur room that a n verdict hUll had been reached The Judge mounted mount mount- ed to the bench rapped for order ant and remained standing as the jurors filed In to their box hox in the courtroom Mr 11 Foreman will you announce the finding of this Jury Jur the Judge droned An ominous hll Irish hush h fell upon th the courtroom The rho spectators all I leaned lennell ennui forward In their seats breathlessly John Marshall gripped his chair hall am and waited rigid and find livid Ih Mary pale pressed against him and Imd stroked hi hIs hand The rue foreman of the Jury jUlY arose am and spoke slowly chopping out his words Your honor the jur Jury finds the defendant de del de- de John Marshall guilty guilty- w The muttered awe that thrilled d through the courtroom at nt the word Guilty Guilt almost drowned out his last lust words The Judge bent beat his gavel upon the he rostrum Marshall had sunk hack back hackin In n his chair Jn tn utter despair Mary Maryrose arose rose her hands clenched her face lied filled with wild terror or of of the murder of Black Benwell the ho foremans foreman's voice olce concluded Whispering voices buzzed through the he room Mary her head at nt first swimming with defiance In her overwrought over over- I wrought state about to fly Into the faces aces of the Judge and Jury jur screamIng screaming scream- scream Ing ng suddenly subsided and fell ell swoonIng swooning swoon- swoon Ing ng Into Taggarts Taggart's Tug alts arms The Judge was rapping for order and silence Hence once more filled the room You have heard the verdict of the jury jur ury he was droning The court wIll pronounce sentence upon the prisoner prisoner pris- pris oner ner two weeks s from today and until that hat time the tho case Is adjourned During the critical week preceding the he trial of John Marshall Terence had md been held prisoner In a lonel lonely canyon can qan- anon an- an yon on cabin h by Buck McLeod The ambush the they had laid for himon himon him on n the day clay he was returning from tho the bank hank at IaU Latigo o with the check for the balance of money Marys s monc had worked They had caught him unawares comIn coming corang com com- In ing ng down upon him seemingly out of ot nowhere on nit all sides Ides of ot him at once cO covering erIng him with their guns and he had been forced to surrender or he lie Would have been shot to death Buck Bucklad had lad ken cn from him the envelope he had had gotten at the bank hank and delivered It t to Taggart art In Pico while the other men disarmed him and led him to the can canyon anyon on cabin where the they Imprisoned him lira He lIe had been constantly on the alert for or opportunities to escape but they kept a double armed guard g over him I night and day I Hes lies a tough customer customer we we cant can't tale take any chances on him Buck told his lis gang On the day after the trial Buck returned returned re- re turned to the canyon after a conference confer confer- ence nce with Taggart at the Pico bar ina in Inn ina a n large motorcar The boss says rush him across Into Mexico as far out of ot the way as possible pos- pos Ible sible he explained Covering him with their guns they forced Terence whose hands were tightly bound Into the car One of ot them hem sat on each side of him Buck tool took the wheel He seized the lever le threw the car into gear and they started started start start- ed off ocr down the road at high speed Buck luck was a reckless driver He kept accelerating the speed of the carto car cm caro to o Its utmost Snorting and racing furiously the they approached the old wooden bridge across the river The warnIng wanting sl sign n on the bridge approach read Danger Danger Speed Speed limit over bridges eight miles per hour Buck Duck did not heed the sign He Hc was going at more than sixty miles an hour lour and kept right on The shaky wooden bridge trembled and groaned as the heavy car plunged ed onto It at that hat velocity As the car reached the middle there was a n sound of snapping timbers a crash The old wooden structure collapsed dropping the careening careening careening ca ca- car into the water below There was wms one nearby watching who saw the accident It was Komi the old Yaqui chief He saw the men struggling In the water each man for himself to dis dis- themselves from the wreckage Then he saw three of them swimming desperately for the shore I In the ml midst st of the circling ripples left by the plunge of oC the automobile he suddenly saw a fourth head rise to the tho surface sputtering then sink again I Komi ran an to the end of the remains i of the bridge watched for his head torise to torise rise again then dove C In and swam swiftly to the spot Just as the thc head rose to the lire surface for the third time Komi readied reached the drowning man ant and caught him h by the hair lie recognized the nun man as Terence Komi started swimming for the shore dra dragging Terence Terene after him Buck am and his comrades hud had reached shore and were standing on the bank watching matching and waiting They rhey ran up UI as Komi Kom pulled In and laid Terence's limp body on the ground Dead Deall he cried as aR the men Ulen approached up ap- him burn Me too late lie pointed at Terence's bound hands hand I Him hands s tied tied cant cant can't swim Him drown I There w was as no breath stirring in Terence's Ter Ter- ence's breast lie He lay motionless Luck Buck approached kicked him with will i his foot to turn him over The limp I bo body rolled over and In lay still Komi spoke again Leave Lea him mini body hody with Komi please he said Rims father Komis Komi's friend friend KomI Komi lJur bury him where him where his hla I father sleeps I No harm In lir that I guess Buck Buk said grimly grittily turning to his fellows I lie He wont won't trouble us no more now You birds beat heat It back to camp In Im streaking for the Spear ranch to to phone Taggart that croaked I The lie dripping men separated Buck Bud going his own 11 wu way In a n different direction di di- 11 Komi watched carefully till all war var shed from sight ht Then he lie bent ov 0 I Terence's Terence s 's body cut the rope rOlle which bound hound his hands worked his unto film vigorously then bent over null and listener to his bis heart la l Maybe he yet et he lie muttered murt murtel jet yel el him live With renewed zest he started work workIng working In Ing Terence's arms amts to restore J lion ion At tile the end of a half hour still hl lay limp but hut the thu old Indian kop kepi up the re motions faithful faithfully I ly and frantically In tile the lira dim hop o of still bringing jn him hint to 10 TO cro UW an CONTINUED J ED a aKin Kin l ss beat U II ii j. j t li J |